Impact of spinal kyphosis on gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in patients with osteoporosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Spinal kyphosis has been speculated to participate in the increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with osteoporosis. The present study provides further evidence that increases in lumbar kyphosis and number of vertebral fractures represent very important risk factors for GERD in patients with osteoporosis.


BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis and spinal kyphosis have been speculated to participate in the increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The present study examined whether GERD in patients with osteoporosis is affected by spinal factors including spinal kyphosis in the presence of oral pharmacotherapies.


METHODS
Subjects comprised 112 patients with osteoporosis (mean age, 78 years) who responded to the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaire, regardless of complaints. Relationships between total FSSG score and number of vertebral fractures, angles of kyphosis, use of bisphosphonates and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and total number of oral medicines per day were evaluated. Logistic regression identified factors associated with GERD.


RESULTS
Bisphosphonates and NSAIDs did not affect total FSSG score. Total FSSG score showed significant positive correlations with total number of medicines (r = 0.283, p = 0.0025), angle of lumbar kyphosis (r = 0.576, p = 0.0001), and numbers of thoracic vertebral fractures (r = 0.214, p = 0.0232) and lumbar vertebral fractures (r = 0.471, p < 0.0001). Angle of lumbar kyphosis and number of lumbar vertebral fractures were identified by multivariate analysis as indices affecting the presence of GERD.


CONCLUSIONS
Increases in angle of lumbar kyphosis and number of lumbar vertebral fractures may represent very important risk factors for GERD in osteoporotic patients.
Miyakoshi
N
N
Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Neuro and Locomotor Science, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan. miyakosh@doc.med.akita-u.ac.jp
Kasukawa
Y
Y
Sasaki
H
H
Kamo
K
K
Shimada
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000150:complications*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates